Dear
Dr. Dean
I
am a 59-year-old professional man living in the southwest.
I read and very much appreciated your story about
the impact of yeast in men in your October blog.
I
was severely impacted by a yeast overgrowth. As a
man, the symptoms of sugar cravings and carb loading
are oh-so-familiar to me.
In
1994, I was experiencing severe lethargy, nausea,
sinus drainage and incredible bouts of athlete's foot
and jock itch. Although I didn't really know anything
about yeast at the time, in hindsight, I suspect that
my initial yeast exposure was most likely sexual in
origin.
My
doctor dismissed the athlete's foot and jock itch
and told me to use over-the-counter topical treatments.
For the sinus drainage and lethargy he diagnosed (incorrectly)
a bacterial sinus infection and prescribed a course
of antibiotics. This, of course, had no effect except
to make the symptoms worse. This was combated by prescribing
a stronger dose of antibiotics. The cycle kept getting
worse and worse until I just resigned myself to feeling
that way forever.
About six
months later, in an annual physical, the same
doctor noticed I had yellow toenails and said I had
a fungal growth. He said he would prescribe an antifungal
to clear up the nails if they bothered me. I told
him I wasn't really vain about my toenails and we
could pass. So we did.
Six
months later I was in for flu shots and a general
checkup -- still lethargic and nauseated all the time
from the sinus drainage. He said he had a sample prescription
of Sporonox, an antifungal medication, and he gave
me two tablets to take home and try for the yellow
toenails.
Within
two days, the results were so astounding that I knew
we had hit on something remarkable. I called him back
and begged for a prescription for the full course
of treatment. He discounted the possibility that there
was any connection between the toenails fungus and
my other symptoms, but said he could prescribe on
the basis of my toenails.
My
athlete's foot disappeared, my jock itch disappeared,
my energy level skyrocketed, the sinus drainage and
nausea stopped completely. The doctor still refused
to accept any link. He insisted that yeast issues
were the domain of women and people with HIV compromised
immune systems exclusively and, since I was neither,
I couldn't possibly have a yeast problem.
I
started my own investigation into yeast overgrowths
and fungal infections. My studies confirmed that men
can be subjected to yeast overgrowth. Based on my
research, I decided to start a diet regimen designed
to starve out the yeast and promote the probiotics.
This
worked well for a little while until I contracted
pneumonia in 1999. The antibiotic regimen to treat
the pneumonia threw the yeast balance out of whack
again so badly that I contracted a case of jock itch
so severe that it had oozing sores.
Once
again the doctor (a different one this time) refused
to accept that there could be a link between the antibiotics
and the secondary symptoms. I was sent away with topical
creams and pain relievers.
In
time, the outward symptoms lessened, but the old symptoms
of lethargy nausea and drainage returned. The lethargy
was so severe that I could not stay awake in the afternoons
regardless of the amount of sleep I had the night
before. I could not exercise for lack of energy and
constantly felt bad.
You
have to understand that this is so counter to me for
most of my life that it is hard to believe. I was
an active runner, workouts four times a week, extreme
energy and almost no illness of any kind in my past.
I
finally found a new doctor whom I was able to convince
I had a yeast overgrowth. It was no easy matter since
she also subscribed to the school that said yeast
can't happen in otherwise healthy men.
I
begged and pleaded for a prescription for Sporanox
and she finally relented only under the condition
that if I did not experience the expected relief by
the third dose, I would contact her and we would discuss
the balance of the prescription. By the second pill
I was back to high energy and no nausea and no drainage
and no athlete's foot or jock itch. I could demonstrate
the departure of the rashes and blisters but she had
to accept my word on the rest.
Since
that regimen, I have not had a recurrence but then
again I am very reluctant to take any course of antibiotics
to the point where I had oral surgery and refused
the antibiotic prescription without any subsequent
difficulty. Apparently my metabolism can handle bacteria
far more readily that yeast or fungus.
I
know there are other men out there being misdiagnosed
by thousands of physicians and my heart goes out to
them for the difference between health and yeast is
the difference between depression and joy. All I know
is that while others hoard antibiotics just in case--
I have a stash of antifungals - just in case.
The
impact of the yeast is so profound I can't believe
it - but then again neither can your average health
practitioner.
Press
on with your good work!